The next morning dawned with a cold, steely light. For a few precious hours, everyone let themselves rest—nursing wounds, sharing food, even daring to hope. But as the sun crept higher, an unspoken energy rippled through the cabin. They would not waste what little time they had left.
Winter was the first to break the silence. He pulled Sapphire aside by the kitchen counter, eyeing her up and down. "You got any weapons left?"
Sapphire crossed her arms, her ocean-blue hair glinting in the morning light. "You forget already? You're the reason my katana's a pile of scrap metal now."
Winter winced, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right. That one's on me." He paused, then smirked. "Lucky for you, I'm full of surprises."
He focused, skin shifting from steel to shimmering silver. With a grunt, he drew a fresh katana out of his own forearm, the blade forming seamlessly from living metal. He spun it once, then handed it to her hilt-first. "Not as pretty as yours, but it'll cut. Better than nothing, right?"
Sapphire arched a brow, taking the blade carefully. She gave it a testing swing, feeling its balance. "You made this... from yourself?" There was a note of surprise—maybe even respect—in her voice.
Winter shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Perks of being a metal man I guess."
While the others watched, Kyo slipped out to his makeshift lab, the newly-built extension attached to the old cabin. Varia peeked in, watching him fidget with a tangle of wires and copper coils. Sparks danced across his fingertips as he concentrated, channeling electricity into the conduit he'd built.
"How much can you put in there?" Volio asked, peering over Kyo's shoulder, eyes wide.
Kyo cracked a smile. "Let's find out." He pushed harder, the air shimmering with static as the coils glowed white-hot. "If I can store enough, maybe we'll have some backup power for, I dunno, electrocuting a demon or two."
Varia clapped her hands. "That's so cool! Just don't blow yourself up, okay?"
Kyo winked. "I'll try my best not too!"
Outside, Winter and Sapphire squared off in the clearing behind the cabin. Winter rolled his shoulders, steel blade forming in his hand. "Let's see if that thing's sharp enough," he called.
Sapphire lifted her new katana, expression fierce and focused. "I will make it work regardless."
Their spar was a blur of motion, steel clashing against steel, Sapphire's strikes swift and precise, Winter countering with brute force and icy footwork. She feinted, ducked, and swept his legs, but Winter recovered, sliding across the frost that formed beneath his boots.
"Don't hold back, I know you have special powers, Winter." Sapphire taunted, breathing hard.
Winter grinned, shifting his stance. "Don't say I didn't warn you!"
He channeled his element, freezing patches of ground and sending spikes of ice up to catch Sapphire off-guard. She danced between them, blade flashing, slicing down each spike as she advanced. The clang of their weapons echoed through the trees.
Meanwhile, Kyo emerged from the lab, sweat on his brow and a wild gleam in his eyes. "Who's ready for a light show?" he called, holding up the glowing conduit.
Varia and Volio cheered, Elliot circling their feet, meowing encouragement.
"Hit it, Kyo!" Varia shouted.
Kyo grinned, absorbing all the electricity stored through the device. Before running outside and lifting his hands up. Intense sparks shot and fizzled out, arcing like a miniature thunderstorm, the energy swirling and crackling in his palm.
Winter and Sapphire paused their spar, both turning to watch. "Not bad, not bad at all!" Winter called, panting.
Sapphire nodded in approval. "If you can do that in battle, our chances will raise a good margin."